p1406.xmlCIRCLE OF THE WITCH:An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical SocietyFinding aid prepared by Cheryl ThiesMinnesota Historical SocietySt. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

Finding aid encoded by Dennis Meissner June 19, 2006Finding aid written inEnglishAugust 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman.February 2019Added series of Photographs from AV1988.159 and AV1988.161 by Karen Obermeyer-Kolb
OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society Circle of the Witch.Circle of the Witch records.1974-1980.Correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, subject files, historical information, photographs, and files pertaining to plays and workshops produced throughout the Midwest by this socialist feminist theater, which existed in Minneapolis/St. Paul from 1973 to 1978.2.75 cubic feet (7 boxes).See Detailed Description for shelf locations.
HISTORICAL NOTE

Circle of the Witch (COTW) was a nonprofit theater organization formed on October 31, 1973 by four women who wished to explore the relationship between theater and feminism. A work group of the Twin Cities Women's Union, the theater functioned as both a political and a collective body. Politically it sought a socialist/feminist revolution. Collectively the members worked within a consensual decision-making framework, with all duties and responsibilities of the theater being rotated among the members, and all plays being developed through discussions and workshops. During COTW's existence, it created and produced five full length plays and several short skits. Its plays were intended to be reflections of the working people and were constantly being changed and revised.

COTW also conducted numerous feminist theater workshops. Between the workshops and spring and fall play tours, COTW performed throughout the entire Midwest area. Practicing its belief in bringing theater to the audience, it played in such diverse places as community centers, colleges, food cooperatives, a women's prison, a hockey rink, parks, women's centers, high schools, coffeehouses, and senior citizen centers. COTW also produced a multi-media packet of its play, Time is Passing. It contained a slide presentation, cassette tape, and script, and was marketed to libraries and schools.

During COTW's five-year existence it had twenty members, with an average membership of seven at any given time. In 1978 COTW's members felt the theater was on the brink of a major change, one that would be too big for the theater to sustain in its current form. COTW was therefore disbanded in the fall of 1978.

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The records of Circle of the Witch (COTW) are divided into a number of files that include historical data, notes from business meetings and new play workshops, correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, subject files, photographs and files relating to COTW plays and workshops, and its membership in various theater organizations. They document the history and development of the theater; its operational and financial structure; its interaction with other theaters, including feminist theaters, and with other women's and theater organizations at the local and national levels; and the lives of individual COTW members.

Includes COTW flyers and brochures, biographical sketches of the members and an historical sketch of COTW, a 1974 newspaper article describing COTW, a contract with the Minnesota Women's Center, University of Minnesota (Aug. 1978) for deposit of COTW's records, and a chapter entitled "Circle of the Witch" from an undated dissertation (author unknown).

Business meeting and new play workshop notes, 1975-1978.3 folders.

Consists of combined notes from general business meetings (1975-1978) and new play workshops (Sept. 1976-1978). The general business meeting notes are divided into individual members' statements, general theater business, staff and committee reports, major decision making, introduction of interested women, and criticism/self-criticism. The notes detail such items as new plays, the workshop program, scheduling, booking, funding, COTW's general direction as a theater, and vehicle maintenance. The new play workshop notes document the development of COTW's plays through members' discussions and critiques.

Includes sample funding request letters, lists of possible grants, and information on grant proposal writing, as well as proposals to The Enablers, Minneapolis (1975); the Bush (1977), Northwest Area (1977), Dayton-Hudson (1978), and Jerome (19771978) foundations; the Minnesota Historical Society (1978-1979); the Minnesota State Arts Board [MSAB] (1975-1978); the National Education Association (1976-1977); and the Revolutionary Culture Conference (1974). The file also includes approval of the 1977 MSAB proposal and COTW's final report for the MSAB grant (1977).

Subject Files

Arranged alphabetically, the subject files consist of both COTW's office files and background and resource files.

P14062Applicants and Interested Women, 1977-1978.

Includes lists of potential members, advertising copy asking women to help create and perform in a multi-racial play (June 1977), and a number of applications.

Comprising representatives of various Twin Cities women's and community groups, the board met several times each year to critique and advise COTW. Includes lists of members and announcements of general COTW progress, meetings, and agendas.

COTW newsletters, 1977-1978.

Contains an undated newsletter report, four newsletters, and related original graphics.

COTW members' reunion, June 30, 1979.

Invitation and mailing list.

COTW 1975 self evaluation, 1975-1976.

Contains an open letter (Nov. 10, 1975) from COTW member Sandy Pappas calling for the evaluation; members' notes and comments; and a report (Jan. 31, 1976) combining the members' written responses and formal and informal discussions.

Eight-week course convened by Sandy Pappas. Includes course descriptions and outline, class roster, readings list, and notes on each session.

Women in the theater arts, 1975-1977.

Mainly correspondence and newsletters concerning various women's art cooperatives and organizations. Includes Women in the Performing Arts newsletter (1975-1976).

Plays

Arranged chronologically, the series contains scripts, publicity materials, critiques, evaluations, correspondence, and development and discussion notes for each of the five full length plays COTW created and produced.

P14063Sexpot Follies, 1974.

Opened March 8, 1974. Includes original and revised scripts.

P14064Lady in the Corner, 1974-1976.6 folders.

Opened January 24, 1975. Includes members' (1975-1976) and audience (June 1975) critiques, notes for each performance (1974-1976), prompter's book (1975), and several revised scripts (1975-1976).

Opened October 21, 1977. Includes discussion notes for each performance (Oct.-Nov. 1977) and a review (Dec. 1977).

Visions/Revisions: A Play About Land and Birth, 1978.3 folders.

Opened May 5, 1978. Includes discussion notes (April-May 1978).

Performances and Workshops

Arranged alphabetically by performance and/or workshop location or host, the series includes correspondence, contracts, COTW's "gig" form for listing details of each performance, and letters dealing with dates, fees, and COTW space and equipment requirements. Also included in this series is material from several commissioned skits and short plays done by COTW. All performance locations are in Minnesota.

Minneapolis Public Schools: Department of Urban Arts and Humanities, 1975.

Details a summer workshop for high school students.

Minnesota Recipients Alliance, Minneapolis, 1975.

A benefit performance.

Minnesota Social Service Association, 1975-1977.

Covers two commissioned skits: "Women in Welfare - Socialization of Women in the Welfare System" (1975), and "Are You Professionally Committed or Are You Burned Out?" (1977), performed at MSSA conferences. Includes script outlines, background notes, contracts, and correspondence.

Details the development of the commission through the service of COTW member Sandy Pappas on the Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Minneapolis Arts Commission and its subcommittee on structure. Includes agendas, minutes, and notes, as well as COTW recommendations for commission appointments (1975).